Propitiatory

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /pɹəʊˈpɪʃɪətəɹɪ/

Definitions

1. intended to calm anger or gain favor through appeasing gestures or ritual acts of atonement
2. designed to placate an offended party or ward off displeasure by means of conciliatory offerings or religious observances
3. Serving to soothe anger or reconcile by making amends through conciliatory actions

Etymology: Propitiatory comes from the Latin "propitiātōrius," meaning "atoning" or "reconciling," the sense of making peace with someone who has been offended. It is a close relative of "propitiate," which shares the same Latin root, "propitius," meaning "favourable" or "gracious." The idea behind both is that a deity or person whose anger has been aroused can be turned back toward goodwill through the right gesture, offering, or apology. In English, the word has stayed closely tied to that religious and ritual sense. Something propitiatory is meant to win back favour, whether that is a sacrifice made to an angry god or a conciliatory act made to a wronged party. The word is formed from the Latin stem "propitiāre," "to appease," with the suffix "-orius," which turns a verb into an adjective meaning "serving to" do something.

Synonyms: appeasing, conciliatory